Currently displaying a tennis themed tartan - ie one overlaid with tennis balls.
Different tartan designs in other colours and sizes are available on request or will rotate naturally with the seasons anyway. You can even ask for a combination of several designs together.

The key distinguishing feature of a tartan weave is its two-over-then-two-under pattern (as opposed to a simple over-under weave). Additionally, typical tartan designs have a repeated sequence of thread colours set the same in both warp and weft and also usually reflected, making a 4mm pattern (in crystallographic terms) if the lower level weave detail is overlooked. This is the sett of the tartan and it has 2 pivot points in the normal reflected form.

Finally, for practical reasons from the way the weaves are created (starting from an edge), threads are always paired. Any single or odd-threaded colour indicates a modern machine-made piece of fakery (ie most high-street store or shop-bought stuff!). Together these conditions mean the total thread count on a workable repeat (not just the mirror reversal half) is always divisible by 2 on a loom (where you don't have to account for the under / over choice) but must be divisible by 4 for a computer image (where you do count every detail).

Tartans are defined by their thread sequences, setts, in terms of the number of threads of each colour forming the unique sequence of bands which is then to be repeated for a particular clan (or, these days, commercial company). As well as the aesthetics (and usefulness for rugs and shirts and skirts etc), another nice thing about tartan is the wonderful analogy its history provides for the way religions and other traditions come into being. It was essentially a gigantic scam. (Read more here.) But, clearly, quite a lot of people were knowingly in on the con-trick:

Please send me a piece of Rose tartan and if there isnâ€™t one, please send me a different pattern and call it Rose.

The term plaid actually refers to a particular usage of a tartan cloth - as a blanket thrown over the shoulder. Unfortunately, many people seem to have confused this with the design itself, especially in the USA. Similarly, the kilt is merely a usage of a tartan cloth. A kilt would not have to be made out of tartan. Meanwhile, a tweed is another different type of woven cloth.
See also:
• more tartans plus contest palette and synergy palette tartans
• more square regular grid designs• design index

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Based on the dimensions you provide, this calculator will determine the number of custom-length sections of paper you'll need to cover any surface. If the height of your surface varies, input the tallest dimension in order for the pattern to line up correctly.